On February 6, 2026, a Pennsylvania District Court judge dismissed key claims in a lawsuit sparked when a couple’s dog accidentally turned on their Samsung stove and started a fire.
Defendants in the lawsuit, Samsung and Best Buy, are out of the hot seat for breach of warranty and manufacturing defect claims. But they will still face legal pressure over the alleged design defect in their electric slide-in range stove.
The Dog Did It. But Did Samsung Help?
In January 2023, plaintiffs Emily Heckman and Jordan Gorsuch placed food on the cooktop of their Samsung Electronics America stove they purchased from Best Buy. In true pup fashion, their dog attempted to get at the food and, in the process, bumped one of the front‑mounted knobs. That single motion was enough to turn on a burner, igniting nearby items and starting a fire while the couple was away from home.
An investigation of the blaze determined that a “malfunction and/or design defect” of the oven range caused an accidental activation of the range knobs controlling the burners. Specifically:
- One continuous motion activates the knobs.
- The range did not have guards covering the knobs.
The couple filed a lawsuit against both Samsung and Best Buy, seeking compensation for the fire damage to their home. They brought claims for negligence, strict liability, and breach of warranty.
Product Liability and Defective Products
Under product liability laws, any party in the chain of distribution can be liable for damages or injuries caused by a defective product. This means that both the stove manufacturer (Samsung) and the retailer (Best Buy) can be on the hook for the resulting property damage. Other retailers that sell the stove, including Lowe’s and Home Depot, could also be liable if the product is found to be defective when it leaves their shelves.
Plaintiffs Don’t Get Another Bite at the Apple
The judge dismissed several parts of the Heckman and Gorsuch lawsuit, stating they didn’t include enough factual detail to support their manufacturing defect and warranty claims. The court gave them the chance to try again, but the amended (modified) complaint still didn’t explain specifically what went wrong in the manufacturing process or how the stove was unfit for normal use.
Because the plaintiffs only described a possible design issue — not a manufacturing mistake — the judge dismissed all manufacturing defect and warranty claims with prejudice. This means they cannot file the same claim again.
The plaintiffs already had multiple chances to fix their claims, and the court isn’t giving them another one. The only claims left in the case are those based on an alleged design defect, which the defendants did not challenge.
Samsung Recalls Range in Question
In August 2024, Samsung, along with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), issued a voluntary recall for its slide-in electric range. The recall cited that “accidental contact by humans or pets” posed a fire hazard.
Owners of the affected Samsung stove reported over 300 instances of accidental activation of the front-mounted knobs since 2013. Some of these reports involved pets. Samsung reported at least 250 house fires caused by the defect, 18 of which resulted in extensive property damage. Seven of these fires involved pet deaths.
And it wasn’t just property damage — consumers also reported 40 injuries.
As a recall remedy, Samsung offered consumers a free set of knob locks or covers. It also recommended that those with Wi-Fi-enabled ranges use the Samsung SmartThings mobile app to receive notifications whenever the burners are activated. The CPSC also advised consumers not to place anything on the top of the recalled ranges due to the risk of fire.
Good Dogs Aren’t Always Smart Dogs
Our neighbors to the north also reported issues with the Samsung electric ranges.
In May 2025, Winnipeg resident Michelle Burkowski reported unintentional activation of her range’s burners by her dog, Buster. Burkowski wasn’t home at the time and found her house full of smoke and a fire on the stovetop when she returned. It’s important to note that Burkowski admitted to leaving a book on the stove. Thankfully, Buster was okay. The book, however, was not.
Not to be deterred, Buster struck again a month after the range fire. This time, the pooch accidentally turned on the oven switch, causing crackers and chips Burkowski was storing in the oven to catch fire.
Burkowski stated, “I love Buster, he is a great dog, but like, he's not the smartest dog.”
Samsung Hasn’t Escaped the Fire Just Yet
Samsung and Best Buy will still face litigation in the Heckman and Gorsuch lawsuit for the alleged design defect in the range stove. Safety issues with this stove are not isolated to the households discussed above, either.
Samsung also faces a pending class-action lawsuit in Tennessee federal court regarding defective electric stoves that can turn on accidentally and cause fires. Plaintiffs in the class action allege that Samsung knew of the defect but failed to inform consumers at the point of sale.
Related Resources
- When To Hire a Lawyer To Sue for Property Damage (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
- How To Handle a Product Recall (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
- Settling Product Liability Claims (FindLaw’s Learn About the Law)
